QUOTE (Biker1 @ Feb 7 2011, 04:08 PM)
Sorry to kick that one off.
I am still not too sure of the answer.
I am of the general opinion that if you are in a motor vehicle and have a collision with a cyclist you are automatically in the wrong.
Still, hypothetical question anyway because, as I said, they use the pavements.
Seems a lot of money to spend on something that is rarely used.
Your comments are very similar to the fuss made when the markings first went down.
Road markings exist to explain the road to users, not to make the driver pay attention. Any car driver who fails to see a cyclist, or any other road user, has a problem (even if not blame). Road users have to act according to the road conditions, use and layout as they find them at the time.
I don't particularly like the layout, but it is tested and approved, at it does encourage cyclists to follow a particular path (even if they choose not to).